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Giannis Antetokounmpo Ensures Lakers Rookie Adou Thiero Receives Game Ball After NBA Debut

Officials initially withheld the ball under postgame protocol, prompting a player-led handoff.

Overview

  • Adou Thiero logged roughly four minutes in his first NBA appearance and scored on two free throws before finishing with a late fast-break dunk.
  • Following the Lakers’ 119-95 win in Milwaukee, game officials declined to release the game ball to Los Angeles for the rookie’s keepsake.
  • Giannis Antetokounmpo took the ball from a Bucks attendant and passed it to the Lakers group so it could be delivered to Thiero.
  • Jarred Vanderbilt said crew chief Pat Fraher told him he would be written up for trying to secure the ball, according to comments relayed to ESPN.
  • Thiero’s father, Almamy, thanked Antetokounmpo on X, and the rookie’s chance came with Rui Hachimura held out for calf soreness and Marcus Smart unavailable.